Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Okay, so one of the guys a work bought himself a Honda 600 Hornet, exactly the same as the HR's except for the strange looking thing mounted on the side of the radiator.
After asking "is that your bike?", I then had to wait to get a word in as the guy spoke to me about it like women are only here to be pillions (must be a salesman thing). Eventually I was able to say "yes, my partner has one the same, but what I want to know is, whats that?" "Oh, a steering damper."

The HR was gobsmacked. This prompted a discussion about use of steering dampers on bikes, and whether they are being used as a solution to bike issues that may not need it. Also, that it seems that far too many sports bikes seem to require them to be rideable; wouldn't that mean that the (perceived) lack of front control is a serious design flaw?

What do you guys think?

You will not need one Honda's don't have serious design flaws.

except for the riders, of course..

mohawk miss wrote:except for the riders, of course..

I must remember that...

With the amount of power the sports bikes are producing now, I'm surprised some are still coming out without dampers

Hornet 600 a sports bike?

BladeBoy wrote:You will not need one Honda's don't have serious design flaws.

Hasn't that honda of yours got an electronic steering damper thingy ???

mfzx6r wrote:

BladeBoy wrote:You will not need one Honda's don't have serious design flaws.

Hasn't that honda of yours got an electronic steering damper thingy ???

It also has a 5th and 6th gear which "apparently" haven't been used either...

mfzx6r wrote:

BladeBoy wrote:You will not need one Honda's don't have serious design flaws.

Hasn't that honda of yours got an electronic steering damper thingy ???

What I was trying to get across was that a Hornet 600 I don't think it would require one, as for the 06 'blade the steep angle demands it, that's why Honda was smart enough to engineer one as standard.

red_dave wrote:

mfzx6r wrote:

BladeBoy wrote:You will not need one Honda's don't have serious design flaws.

Hasn't that honda of yours got an electronic steering damper thingy ???

It also has a 5th and 6th gear which "apparently" haven't been used either...

That's right pick on the old guy

BladeBoy wrote:Hornet 600 a sports bike?

According to some sections of the media, a hornet 600 will do 260kph!!

But I was more referring to the comment "that it seems that far too many sports bikes seem to require them to be rideable"

here is a pic of your average honda rider

maybe NWS

They are just a mini shock absorber that is horizontal to add to the already vertical ones when you think about it.

I like them as they give a more solid feel to the front end, and keep the steering fluid over bumps and rough roads.

Its like any accessory, its your choice to fit or not to fit, but I like em'.

BladeBoy wrote:.... as for the 06 'blade the steep angle demands it, that's why Honda was smart enough to engineer one as standard.

and so one of the greatest urban myths and old wives tales continues to be peddled to unsuspecting punters.......

Steep steering head angles *Do Not* require a steering damper simply as result of their *steepness*. If this were true, then steering dampers would be needed on every motorcycle ever made, with the size of the damper increasing as the steering head angle gets forever steeper...

If you spent some quality time, reading "Motorcycle Chassis Design: The Theory & Practice", by Tony Foale and Vic Willoughby, you would have seen that Tony Foale designed and built and adjustable front end for a flat-twin BMW , he could set this to obtain a Zero deg rake......thats right, a vertical steering head.........and he could ride this bike *with both hands tied behind his back* !!!! it was just as stable at higher speeds as it was at low speed......this book is worth a read if you have any interest in how a motorcycle really works...... ISBN 0-85045-560-X

quote..."...With the 15 deg rake, the bike had full road equipment, so that it could be ridden under everyday conditions. Five riders covered over 2,000 miles between them, including wet and dry going, bumpy country lanes, London traffic and high-speed motorway trips. Throughout this period no steering damper was fitted........."

This experiment totally blew the old hoagy theory about steep head angles needing dampers.........

Steering dampers are used to cover design faults in motorcyle chassis & suspension. Thats it. If your bike has its wheels *exactly* in line, and the appropriate spring/damping rates at either end, then you *will not* require a steering damper under normal conditions of riding.

The reason that steering dampers sell like hot cakes these days is a combination of (a) inexperienced riders on (b) very fast & powerful motorcycles that are also (c) very light, but they are all still riding on (d) shitty roads from last century.

In all my years of riding, I have encountered exactly 3 occasions where a steering damper may have controlled a tank-slapper. 2 of these were on the 12, so its not all old memories

I really think they are just a nice bit of bling that is in full view of the world............and they mask underlying alignment & suspension issues on your chosen scooter.

i've a a couple of small tank slappers, mainll due to my manhanlding of a bike across rough surfaces with the front wheel on and off the ground...

i wouldnt say all bikes need them, but i think it could be a bit of a safety item.